Christmas miracle in the delivery room: A boy joy on Christmas Eve!

Christmas miracle in the delivery room: A boy joy on Christmas Eve!

On December 24, 2000, Carmen Stwa from Lemwerder prepared for a cozy Christmas with her two -year -old daughter and her husband. Her second child was expected for January 8, 2001. But Christmas Eve took an unexpected turn: in the morning it began with light contractions, which she initially classified as harmless. However, the contractions became more intense, which ultimately prompted them to go to the Blumenthal hospital. Her daughter was looked after by the grandparents.

at 5:20 p.m. her son Max Christoph saw the light of day. In the delivery room there was a discussion about his full first name. While Carmen and the newborn had to stay in the hospital for three days due to birth, her husband Thomas Hanke prepared the Christmas menu for the first holiday in the evening. Despite the absence of mother and child, the guests came to celebrate as planned. The Christmas tree could not be set up or decorated on Christmas Eve, which was made up for by her mother -in -law and an incident with a cut light chain. The first Christmas day was also celebrated without Carmen and Max.

a special Christmas present

Max weighed 3,410 grams at birth and was 54 centimeters tall. Since then he has been celebrating his 24th birthday on December 24th, which brings a special family tradition: in the morning the birthday breakfast is celebrated until 12 p.m. However, Christmas is not only a special time for families with newborns, but also for those who work in the delivery room. According to a report by the Archdiocese of Cologne, midwives often experience Christmas day as a normal working day. Despite the festive atmosphere, professional processes are required. Midwife Damaris Fritschle thinks of the birth of Maria and feels gratitude for medical care. Her colleague Luisa Tomadini emphasizes that nobody wants to blow on Christmas Eve, but every birth is a Christmas miracle.

On some of the Christmas evenings, the delivery rooms are very busy, while it is quietly approaching others. A year earlier, only one delivery room was occupied, but there was also a dead birth, which is in strong contrast to the miracles of the Christmas story. Tomadini describes the emotional challenges of the midwife profession, especially during this time. However, there is a positive memory when a woman gave birth to her child in the 24th week of pregnancy on Christmas Eve and a year later the team informed that the premature baby survived and the family celebrated its first birthday.

For everyone involved, Christmas remains a time of contradictions, joy and challenges - be it in the family or in the delivery room.

More details on Carmens history can be found in Archbistum Cologne